Steelers still breathing after wheezing past Browns

Pittsburgh capitalized on five Cleveland
turnovers for an ugly 13-6 victory over the bumbling Browns on Sunday,
keeping the Steelers' slim playoff hopes alive for another week.

Jerome Bettis ran for a season-high 93 yards on 24 carries for
Pittsburgh, which won despite being outgained 303-168 in total yards,
getting just 11 first downs, committing 10 penalties and running only
six offensive plays in the third quarter.

The Steelers had only 73 passing yards, with fullback
Dan Kreider getting two catches for a team-high 21 yards.

"It did not matter if it was pretty, ugly or 3-0," Steelers quarterback
Tommy Maddox said. "You want to be good statistically, but you want
to win games. That's the most important thing."

Chad Scott intercepted Kelly Holcomb's
pass with 1:41 remaining at the Pittsburgh 39 to seal it for the Steelers
(4-7), who had dropped six of seven and were coming off a short work
week after playing at San Francisco on Monday night.

"Nobody believed in us but us," said Steelers linebacker
Joey Porter, who is holding out hope the club can make the playoffs.
"We're still in this. We run the table, we'll be there."

The Browns were the ones who played like a tired team.

Cleveland didn't score a TD despite having the ball inside Pittsburgh's
20 four times -- and came away with only one field goal on three visits
within the 10.

In the third quarter, the Browns (4-7) twice had first-and-goal at
Pittsburgh's 6 but failed to score.

On the Browns' second trip there, Holcomb forced a pass to
Andre' Davis into double coverage that was picked off by
Brent Alexander in the end zone.

In all, the Browns gained just 12 yards on 14 plays inside the 20. On
their 10 snaps inside the 10, they gained 1 yard, were stopped on a
crucial fourth down and threw an interception.

"We kicked ourselves in the teeth the whole game," said offensive tackle
Ryan Tucker. "We had the opportunities, we just didn't do anything
with them."

Cleveland also had a TD punt return by Dennis
Northcutt called back because of holding in the first quarter.

Maddox was 9-of-24 and throw a 1-yard scoring pass to
Mark Bruener in the second quarter.

Holcomb, who shredded the Steelers for 429 yards in the playoffs last
season, went 25-of-44 for 234 yards and the two picks -- but could have
had three more intercepted.

James Jackson ran for 94 yards and caught five passes for 49
but fumbled twice.

"I can't blame the loss on anyone but me," he said. "We moved the ball,
Holcomb made the plays but it was the fumbles. It's a killer -- we get
in the red zone, we gotta score touchdowns."

Cleveland trailed 10-6 at halftime despite dominating the Steelers in
the first half.

In the third quarter, the Browns had second-and-goal at the 1, but
Jackson was stopped on two consecutive plunges by linebacker
Kendrell Bell, who came over the top to nail the back on third down.

With Cleveland trailing by four, Browns coach Butch Davis gambled by
going for a touchdown on a fourth down, but Northcutt was tackled on a
double reverse by Scott just short of the goal line.

The Browns challenged the call, saying Northcutt wasn't down before the
ball crossed. But after a review, referee Walt Coleman said the call
stood.

"I had him man-to-man, so he was my guy the whole way," Scott said. "I
just tracked him and was able to tackle him before he got in the end
zone."

Pittsburgh didn't pick up a first down on any of its first three
possessions, and had just 2 total yards to Cleveland's 102 after the
first quarter.

But the Browns didn't take advantage and settled for two field goals by
Phil Dawson to take a 6-0 lead in the second quarter.

That came back to haunt them when Steelers linebacker
James Farrior recovered a botched handoff by Holcomb to Jackson at
the Browns 17. Pittsburgh needed five plays to score with Maddox hitting
Bruener from the 1.

A few minutes later, Browns running back Jamel
White was stripped by Bell and Alexander recovered at the 22.

The Steelers got inside the 10, but couldn't cash in as Maddox threw
three consecutive incompletions before Reed's 23-yard field goal put
Pittsburgh up 10-6 at halftime.

Notes

Browns C Jeff Faine sprained his right ankle in first quarter
and didn't return. He was replaced by Melvin Fowler.

Steelers C Jeff Hartings injured his right knee in the second
quarter. Coach Bill Cowher expects Hartings to be out a few
weeks.

Holcomb completed his first three passes, giving him 16 in a row in
two games to tie the club record set by Bernie Kosar in 1989.

Pittsburgh's 168 yards were the fewest given up by the Browns since
1993.